[Currents aspects of H2 receptor antagonists in the treatment of ulcers]

Inhibition of H2 receptors has been the first fully evaluated treatment of peptic ulcer and remains the most widely used mode of therapy. In this review, we summarize the current data on clinical pharmacology, therapeutic indications and results of the four currently used drugs: cimetidine - ranitidine - pepticidine - nizatidine. Their similarities are stressed. Recent data are underlined. The superiority or necessity of a single evening dose is questioned, as well as the clinical importance of tolerance and rebound. The effect on gastric alcohol dehydrogenase is mentioned pending further work on the clinical importance of this discovery. In the acute treatment, the antisecretory potency is of major importance in duodenal ulcer, the duration of treatment in gastric ulcer. Maintenance treatment prevents complication as well as recurrence. H2 receptor antagonists remain a primary treatment of peptic ulcer.